Continuing the conversation on the supply of Lend-Lease cars in the USSR, we went to another car-legend. And not just a car, and three of his incarnation, which are on display at the museum UMMC military equipment in Verkhnyaya Pyshma. Surrounded by the love and care of the well-known American «Jimmy» Today our heroes.
Most readers, not even interested in military equipment, know this car on numerous Hollywood blockbuster. Furthermore, many even saw the car in the Russian and foreign museums and pictures of war newsreel. We have seen… We never saw.
AT previous article we talked about the legendary Jeep. And there was no less than the legendary CMC CCKW-352/353, he is «Jimmy», the most massive military truck of World. As well as «jeep», it was the same «wheelhorse» US army.
Number of cars, produced by the US automotive industry strikes. 562 750 units! By the number is more, than each of the manufacturing companies "Willis" ("Willis" and "Ford"). The truth is the total number of "Willis" cars produced yet more. A metal went over to "Jimmy", so that the production of such parity with us.
«Jimmy» (there is also another name of the soldier's vehicle - «two and a half») It existed in many guises. From the usual truck, although the word "normal" here take difficult, to a mobile operating. By truck bombs to carrier. Truly, wagon to the bone. Vehicles for all.
The beginning of this history of the car not to be found in automobile design bureau, and the Pentagon. It was the US military in the late 30-ies finally approved classes of military vehicles.
Basic and versatile tactical truck was supposed to be a car carrying capacity 2,5 American ton (2270 kg) and with the wheel formula 6×6. In addition to the transportation of goods and personnel, the car could also serve as a towing vehicle for light field artillery.
Already seen on the car name, that the development and production of trucks involved in General Motors Corporation. The first production car, naturally, He appeared in the office of the corporation Yellow Truck & Coach in 1940 year. It was a truck GMS ACKWX-353.
The question immediately arises about numbers 352/353. Material such as a 352-m, and the story of the 353-m. All the matter in a different length of the chassis. See below. In the meantime, the first batch «Jimmy».
The machine had a universal loading platform and, for now, cockpit commercial type, which was protected by a grille. For the United States Army was built 2466 units.
Interestingly, new truck almost immediately aroused the interest of European consumers. military delegation arrived from Paris, that after the tests has signed a contract to supply the French army 1000 such vehicles.
Alas, But the Frenchman was unlucky. The Second World War and was occupied by France. But «French thousand» not lost in the American prairies. The machines were delivered to England.
Americans at this time modified truck. There was indeed a military machine GMC CCKWX-353. quite difficult for a layman to understand this whole set of letters and numbers. Therefore it is necessary to decipher the lettering American cars.
so, GMC. It's clear. General Motors Corporation, the actual name of the manufacturer and the name of the car.
The first letter - model year (BUT - 1940 city, WITH - 1941 city).
The second - the type of cabin (C - The bonneted, F - over engine).
For commercial model that was enough.
But I had to add more letters to the military vehicle. So, character K denotes a drive Front Axle, W - the car has three axes, X - that car is worth «step-» transmission. Digital index - Chassis code, and the heavier the model was, the figure was higher.
New car really became a military. Ethnicity became more austere. The habitable part of the cabin remains the same, but the hood and fenders got a simplified form. Otherwise it becomes and the bumper - a massive timber. Cars equipped with a 6-cylinder carbureted engine GMC 270 volume 4416 cube. cm. and power 94 l. from.
Power Corporation allows to produce a completely crazy at that time the number of cars. From October 1940 to February 1941 year was made 13 188 units. Most of the vehicles had a base 4166 mm. But there were among them 250 cars, which were intended for artillery. artillery tractors.
These machines have a shorter base - 3683 mm. by the way, their appearance «killed» letter «X» In the title. It is these vehicles, After some renovation in February 1941 the year and received the designation CCKW-352. Further, Lend-Lease to the USSR were delivered for the most part these are the cars.
From that moment and started mass production. AT 1943 year was made 130 843 car. It was described by the release of the car peak. In the same year to release GMC CCKW hooked branch Chevrolet, a firm Yellow Truck & Coach transformed into a branch of GMC Truck & Coach.
Two strange contraption on the dashboard - it lights. It is formed outside panel, instead of our usual inside the device.
During manufacture in the construction times make various changes, but the appearance is almost no effect. From April 1943 Truck of the Year received a cabin with soft top, named «tropical». true, this was due, Firstly, metal deficiency, rather than climate feature.
Every fourth truck was equipped with an annular ring mount for mounting guns, which was located on the cab roof.
AT 1941-1943 respectively produced version of the model GMC CCKW-353 with non-driven front axle. He was designated as the GMC CCW-353 and supplied, mainly, Lend-Lease. Total produced 23 500 such machines.
Since July 1943 , the metal cabins were replaced by canvas, with fabric doors and side windows made of transparent plastic. Such a stall than the metal had two major advantages - firstly, it reduced the consumption of scarce metal, Secondly, reduces overall height and volume of the machine, it was important for transportation by sea vessels.
But the Russian winter fabric cockpit "Lend-lizovyh 'truck aroused justified complaints. All set for GMC cab five types:
- type 1574 and later typ 1608 - all-metal cabin, used on CCW and CCKW models;
- type 1615 - all-metal cabin, followed at AFKWX;
- type 1619 - tropical cabin with canvas top models for CCKW;
- type 1620 - tropical cabin with canvas top models for AFKWX.
The main body type was the universal loading platform, which the Americans called Cargo. In addition she had tippers (the same universal platform, but with a visor and a hydraulic lift), tanks for fuel and water, compressor stations, vans of various purposes, cranes and truck bombs.
Separately, you can note improvised fighting vehicles based CCKW. In the US army in the field for these trucks mounted launchers of rockets, anti-aircraft guns Browning 12.7-mm and 40-mm anti-aircraft gun Bofors.
In the USSR, these cars also fell, though in miniscule amounts, because we were massive delivery truck Studebaker US6. Nevertheless, some even CCKW mounted BM-13 rocket launchers.
Consider the car more closely.
Control devices in cars GMC for today looked quite traditional. Although Soviet drivers of American cars was an unusual grading scales in the metric system is not. To quote manual GMC trucks, published in 1944 year:
«Speedometer has the following division: 0; 16 km / h; 32 km / h; 48 km / h; 64 km / h; 80 km / h; 96 km / h. Thermometer showing the temperature of water in the cooling system. The water temperature may vary depending on the road conditions, however, it should be in the range 60-85o C, if the water temperature rose to 100 ° Celsius, Immediately stop the machine and find out the reason for overheating».
At all, not the metric system of calibration instruments and tools delivered a lot hassle Soviet driver and commander. Already mentioned above «leadership» written literally «incrementally». otherwise, eg, car repair is simply impossible to hold.
Now under the hood. To have the engine mentioned above GMC 270. Carburetor 6-cylinder engine GMC 270, volume 4,416 l (Bore 101,6 mm, power stroke 96,04 mm). Engine power was 102-104 horsepower (SAE) at 2750-2800 rev / min.
The maximum speed on the highway - 72 km / h (45 miles), Fuel consumption - 31-35 liter of 100 kilometers on the highway and from the 65 to 75 liter of 100 kilometers of cross-country.
The torque transmitted through the transmission single-disc dry clutch Inland 754379, located directly behind the flywheel. One of the few shortcomings of this model three-axle, probably, It was the need for frequent adjustment of the clutch.
Transmission with a sliding switch mechanism was made by Warner. She had 5 speeds forward and 1 ago (fifth gear improver) and I was directly behind the casing for the clutch unit.
PTO shaft is on the left side of the gearbox for additional equipment - winch, a hydraulic pump and other devices. In CCKW-353 and CCKW-352 used two different types of driving axles, which are manufactured by Timken-Detroit Axle Co and Banjo (the latter is already commercially produced truck Chevrolet).
Trucks with a separate drive and rear axle drive "Banjo" have significantly different transmission (different differentials, transfer boxes, driveshafts). Regardless of the wheelbase, types axes and cab, truck could be equipped with a winch.
The winch is installed between the side members to the radiator behind the front bumper. It was set in motion with the help of the propeller shaft from the gearbox.
Now about bodies. There, too, has its own nuances. On the trucks described model establishes three types of airborne platforms. The first was used by August 1942 of the year. It was made of steel and composed of 10 or 14 cut pattern stamped parts.
From August 1942 to February 1944 steel wood, the body. Produced at a furniture factory. The reason is simple: metal saving, that on each body was to 450 kg.
Since February 1944 , the body became universal. The boards were metal, but the floor was wooden. Solomonic solution! by the way, on all types of bodies established special folding seats for personnel.
Performance characteristics CCKW-352/353:
years: 1941-45.
Engine: GMC 270, petrol, carburettor, row, shestitsilindrovыy, nizhneklapannym.
Engine power: 104-106 HP.
dimensions: 6928 x 2235 x 2200 mm
Ground clearance: 250 mm
full speed: 72 kmh
Fuel consumption: 38 liter of 100 km
Volume of the tank: 150 liters
vehicle weight: 5100/4540 kg
And finally. At the very beginning of the article we wrote, that some of the readers have seen this car «personal», but «did not recognize» him. This is quite often the case. If you compare a photo of two trucks, scanty «Jimmy» and numerous «Studebekkera», everything will fall into place.
The total number set in the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease car was 477 785 pcs, from them about 300 000 freight road vehicles. And each one of these cars was at the front is really at a premium. Including CCKW-352.
